Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Friday confirmed the death of his Special Adviser on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Deji Tinubu.
Mr Tinubu slumped while playing five-a-side match with fellow participants at the ongoing retreat of members of the state executive council and permanent secretaries at the Jubilee Chalets, Epe.
Doctors and nurses rushed to give him first aid and he was immediately taken to the General Hospital, Epe where he was confirmed dead.
In a message posted on Twitter, Mr Ambode described the deceased as “a fine gentleman and team player who was committed and passionate about the Lagos vision”.
We lost a member of the Lagos State Executive Council last night, Mr. Deji Tinubu, the Special Adviser on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives. A fine gentleman and team player who was committed and passionate about the Lagos vision.
May his soul Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/V9ZiUH43HR— Akinwunmi Ambode (@AkinwunmiAmbode) January 26, 2018
The government, in a statement signed by Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, on Friday also expressed “shock and disbelief’ over the death.
According to Mr Bamigbetan, the government has reached out to his immediate family to commiserate on this huge loss to the family and the citizens of Lagos State.
“We are still in shock. All of us at the State Executive Council are in disbelief. He was a good and committed patriot who brought his passion to his job. He was a gentleman who maintained excellent team spirit. We shall miss him,” he said.
The late Deji Tinubu was the son of late Kafaru Tinubu, one of Nigeria’s foremost police officers. He is survived by an aged mother, Bintu Tinubu, and wife, Yemisi.
He was sworn in as Special Adviser on Sports and Chairman of the State’s Sports Commission on October 19, 2015.
He was moved to take up his new portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle announced on January 11, 2018.
An autopsy is expected to be carried out while burial arrangements will be announced by the family.
